How are you doing?

Gifts of the Spirit for Hard Times "If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as evidence that the Atonement is working in your life. For that reason and many others, you would do well to put yourself in places and in tasks that invite the promptings of the Holy Ghost." —Henry B. Eyring, "Gifts of the Spirit for Hard Times" Topics: Atonement, Holy Ghost

Becoming Our Best Selves "In the search for our best selves, several questions will guide our thinking: Am I what I want to be? Am I closer to the Savior today than I was yesterday? Will I be closer yet tomorrow? Do I have the courage to change for the better?" —Thomas S. Monson, "Becoming Our Best Selves", Ensign and Liahona, April 2006 Topics: Jesus Christ, Repentance

Are you Happy?

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” - Denis Waitley

Life

“Living with integrity means: Not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe.”

- Barbara De Angelis

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” 

- Calvin Coolidge

I challenge you.

“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain -- he is inspired by it. The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem -- he is challenged by it. Mountains are created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.” - William Arthur Ward

Win

“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” - Zig Ziglar

Inspire me.

Don’t Live to Impress. Live to Inspire. Give up your desire to impress everyone you meet. But never give up your desire to inspire everyone you meet.

A Prophet of God, Howard W. Hunter

What is the real cause of this trend toward the welfare state, toward more socialism? In the last analysis, in my judgment, it is personal unrighteousness. When people do not use their freedoms responsibly and righteously, they will gradually lose these freedoms. . . .

If man will not recognize the inequalities around him and voluntarily, through the gospel plan, come to the aid of his brother, he will find that through “a democratic process” he will be forced to come to the aid of his brother. The government will take from the “haves” and give to the “have nots.” Both have last their freedom. Those who “have,” lost their freedom to give voluntarily of their own free will and in the way they desire. Those who “have not,” lost their freedom because they did not earn what they received. They got “something for nothing,” and they will neither appreciate the gift nor the giver of the gift.

Under this climate, people gradually become blind to what has happened and to the vital freedoms which they have lost.

( Source: Speeches of the Year 1965-1966, pp. 1-11, “The Law of the Harvest”, Devotional Address, Brigham Young University, 8 March 1966 )

Attitude

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your mind. Put your whole soul to it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

DO vs BE

"Don't equate your self-worth with how well you do things in life. You aren't what you do. If you are what you do, then when you don't...you aren't."
"I am a human being, not a human doing."

Isn’t it about Time?

One day when your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it’s a movie worth watching.

Swallowing the Horse Pill

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.
—Douglas Everett

Happy-nesses

“Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” —Margaret Lee Runbeck

The Laborers in the Vineyard

"Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live." —Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard", Ensign and Liahona, May 2012

Listen to your feelings

People love others not for who they are but for how they make them feel. ~Irwin Federman

Reliance

“There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.” — William F. Buckley, Jr.

Love

“Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy.”
Sai Baba

Are you at Peace?

If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.
— Lao Tzu

Change, becoming better.

“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.” ~Dr. Anthony Robins

Too many laws…

"Good people don't need laws to tell them to act responsibly... and bad people will find a way around the laws."
--Plato

Its amazing how true principals never age with time.....

 

Developing Self-Reliance (1951)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9iflUfYRTc&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “It’s hard work to become self-reliant, but these are the steps: Assume responsibility. Be informed. Know where you are going. Make your own decisions.”

Snap Out of It! (Emotional Balance) (1951)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhfYvODAD9w&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “It’s one thing to set high goals for yourself. It’s quite another to be emotionally upset each time you miss your goal.”

You and Your Work (1948)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEBizJWOoVM&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “Any job, pounding a plane or selling shoes, is as important as you make it. If you think it’s not important, whatever it is, you’ll soon become bored with it and do it poorly. To enjoy your work, you need to find something more than money. You need personal satisfaction, pride of accomplishment, a sense of importance to others, whether it’s a part-time job after school or a lifetime career.”

The Benefits of Looking Ahead (1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlVAwwI_qAE&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “To succeed in something, you have to have a purpose. And make plans for reaching it. And work at it all the time.”

Your Thrift Habits (1948)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQsBnzUvkQ&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “When you want something hard enough, you can find ways to save for it.”

How Honest Are You? (1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAhOvZrRPT0&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “When you have a problem involving your own honesty it will help you to remember these three points. Know yourself: be sure of your intentions — the motives behind what you’re doing and saying. Find the truth: test it in the light of past experience and by checking it every way you can. And express the truth: make sure you say what you mean to say and make sure your meaning is clear to your listeners.”

Self-Conscious Guy (1951)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0LiWIypZM4&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “If I could become skillful, I wouldn’t be so scared of it…I’d forget about myself, and just think of doing it well.”

How to Keep A Job (1949)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV6QieHZT70&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “As long as times are good, there will be jobs for fellas who just barely do enough to get by. But to keep a job when the going gets rough, you need to insure your job — make yourself so valuable your employer can’t let you go.”

Act Your Age (1949)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7dSCbAQR5k&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “Different parts of our personalities grow at different rates.”

Mind Your Manners (1953)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PrVFlPV9tM&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “Everywhere you go your manners are with you, and they leave their mark. They help you feel sure of yourself too, and they make an impression on people — on everyone you meet.”

What to Do On a Date (1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WH4NWbPABw&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “There are lots of things to do on dates if you know how to look for them, if you plan them with the other person in mind, and if you really try to make sure each date is a good time.”

Better Use Of Leisure Time (1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH_gncP_5vc&feature=player_embedded
Takeaway: “A good use of leisure time should give you a change, should help you learn things, and it’s a good idea to have a long-range goal for your leisure time activities.”